‘It’s a Waiting Game’: Tattoo Parlors Frustrated by County Reopening Rules

Tarun Kumar “TK” Rajkumar tattoos a shopper at Capitol Tattoos in Silver Spring.

Montgomery County entered Section 2 of reopening on June 19, permitting many residents to lastly get again to work. Nonetheless, some companies are nonetheless ready to open, because the county strays from state pointers by forcing tattoo parlors, tanning salons, therapeutic massage parlors and different esthetic service suppliers to stay closed.

Tarun Kumar “TK” Rajkumar, a tattoo artist at Capitol Tattoos in Silver Spring, mentioned that whereas he’s grateful County Govt Marc Elrich is doing his finest to maintain the neighborhood secure, it’s irritating not understanding why sure companies are being singled out.

“Anyplace else within the DMV all different tattoo outlets are open. So now we have not gotten a motive and we’re not capable of give our shoppers a timeframe on once we can be open up,” mentioned Rajkumar.

Bethesda Tattoo Firm proprietor James Hughes echoed frustrations in an interview with WTOP, saying that watching neighboring outlets reopen is “type of a slap within the face.”

Initially, Elrich had mentioned that Section 3 choices couldn’t be made till after the Fourth of July attributable to a possible spike in instances. Nonetheless, that timeline has since been prolonged as officers look ahead to instances to drop fairly than proceed to plateau.

“Doing higher just isn’t the identical factor as doing properly,” mentioned Elrich in an interview with Fox 5 information. “We’ve seen what’s occurred round this in the remainder of the nation from individuals who open too rapidly…and we’re going to watch out. My first accountability is to maintain folks wholesome.”

And whereas well being and security are necessary to contemplate, being out of labor for months endlessly has been very tough for a lot of staff. When requested if he would take into account transferring to an open store if issues proceed, Rajkumar mentioned he desires to remain at Capitol Tattoos.

“I like the place I work and I like what I do…I’m a part of the tattoo household at Capitol Tattoo and there’s no altering to that,” he mentioned. Rajkumar added that his household and dependable clientele have helped him to deal with the pandemic.

“All my shoppers have stored in contact with me. They’re reaching out to me, seeing how I’m doing, they’re giving me tattoo concepts until then to attract out and hold prepared for once we open again up,” he mentioned.

And once they lastly do get to open, Rajkumar says that Capitol Tattoo is prepared.

“We wouldn’t have multiple shopper on the store…we had been prepared with our sterilization procedures, cleansing up of the tattoo chairs, ensuring we’re working by appointment solely, in order that means we will make certain that we’re eliminating any danger of transmitting something,” mentioned Rajkumar.

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About Tori Bergel

Tori Bergel is an intern at Montgomery Neighborhood Media. She is a rising senior throughout the Philip Merrill Faculty of Journalism on the College of Maryland. She will be reached at [email protected] Comply with her on twitter at @BergelTori.